Desert Rock

JBL VERTEC® ROCKS THE DESERT IN DUBAI WITH SLS PRODUCTION

NORTHRIDGE, California – Demonstrating the growing worldwide adoption of JBL VERTEC® line arrays for major entertainment-industry events, SLS Production of Dubai recently provided concert sound reinforcement services for Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2009, the 10th year for the concert series. As in years past, to meet the tour-rider specifications of international-class performing artists, the system at the Festival featured an extensive range of JBL VERTEC line array models.

Dubai Desert Rock Festival 2009 took place at the Dubai Festival City on March 6, with this year’s show placing an emphasis on heavy metal acts. Performers included Motorhead, Nervecell, Arch Enemy, Opeth, Chimaira and August Burns Red. Additional performers included Hatred from Germany and Scarab from Egypt, both of whom won entry by winning the "United We Rock" and "United We Rock/Middle East Edition," respectively. This year’s event drew a crowd of more than 7,000 fans.

The main PA system featured left-right line array hangs, with each side including 12 JBL VT4889 full-size line array elements, three VT4887A compact line array elements and six VT4880 full-size arrayable subwoofers. For additional low-end support, SLS deployed two ground stacks in front of the stage, each containing 12 VT4880A ultra-long excursion, dual 18-inch arrayable subwoofers. Two arrays of two VT4888 midsize line array elements provided infill coverage, with eight VT4888 loudspeakers providing out-fill coverage. Additional arrays of VT4887 loudspeakers were used for side fills. Crown Macro-Tech amplifiers powered the system.

SLS Production has provided sound reinforcement for the Dubai Desert Rock Festival for the past several years, relying on JBL all the way. "We first added VERTEC to our inventory eight years ago and we have had no regrets about that decision," said Girish Yerunkar, Sales Manager for SLS Production. "We have gradually expanded our rental stock and today we have the largest rental sound system in the entire Gulf region and can cater to concerts of 350,000 people, maximum."

For more information on SLS Production, please visit www.slspro.net

JBL is a unit of Harman International Industries, Incorporated (www.harman.com). Harman International Industries, Incorporated designs, manufactures and markets a wide range of audio and infotainment products for the automotive, consumer and professional markets. Harman International maintains a strong presence in the Americas, Europe and Asia, and employs more than 11,000 people worldwide. The Harman International family of brands includes AKG®, Audioaccess®, Becker®, BSS®, Crown®, dbx®, DigiTech®, Pictured, from left: Paul Bauman, JBL; Bryan Olson and Mark Dittmar, Firehouse Productions; and Brian Divine, Crown Audio. Harman Kardon®, Infinity®, JBL®, Lexicon®, Mark Levinson®, Revel®, QNX®, Soundcraft® and Studer®. Harman International’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NYSE: HAR."

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